Astraea
Generally speaking, closely applying significators send the clearest message. If planets are applying with several degrees between them, there is a greater opportunity for another planet to interfere with the perfection of an aspect (or for a significator to leave a sign or house) than if only a degree or two were involved. So the closer significators are by degree to completing an aspect, the greater the opportunity for them to perfect the aspect. If they are within orb, they have already begun to influence one another (see below). If they are widely apart by degree, but will eventually perfect an aspect (before either of them leaves the signs and houses they are in), and no other planet fills the gap between them or aspects one of them first, that can be seen as a wide application which will eventually perfect in real time (as judged by the ephemeris). The farther apart significators are by degree, the greater the likelihood that we will find either translation or collection of light, or some form of interference in the completion of the aspect.
In traditional astrology, planets are considered to have something like an aura or radius of influence surrounding them - their orbs - and the half-point or moiety of their combined orbs is that point at which they begin to have direct effects on one another by aspect (i.e. they are then said to be "within orb" of one another). In traditional astrology, planets (not aspects) have orbs: the aspect is simply an angular relationship that describes the manner in which planets' orbs combine.
Planets' orbs vary in diameter. In Lilly's schema, the Sun has the widest orb at 17 degrees; next comes the Moon at 12.5, then Jupiter 12, Saturn 10, Venus 8, Mars 7.30 and Mercury 7. (Some other traditional astrologers assign different but similar orb values to the planets.)
To find out if significators are within orb, we add the number of degrees comprising each planet's orb and divide that number by two, arriving at their moiety - the point at which they begin to actively influence one another through the medium of an aspect. For example, Sun (17 degrees) plus Jupiter (12 degrees) equals 29 degrees; divided by two, we get 14.5 degrees. So when Jupiter and the Sun are within 14.5 degrees of forming an aspect, they are said to be within orb, and if they are applying we sit up and take notice of other conditions affecting them. It should be noted that, technically, a conjunction is not an aspect, but a bodily conjoining - though for ease of discussion, we often refer to the conjunction as an aspect.
This might be too much information, but at some point in the study of perfection you will need to have it.
In traditional astrology, planets are considered to have something like an aura or radius of influence surrounding them - their orbs - and the half-point or moiety of their combined orbs is that point at which they begin to have direct effects on one another by aspect (i.e. they are then said to be "within orb" of one another). In traditional astrology, planets (not aspects) have orbs: the aspect is simply an angular relationship that describes the manner in which planets' orbs combine.
Planets' orbs vary in diameter. In Lilly's schema, the Sun has the widest orb at 17 degrees; next comes the Moon at 12.5, then Jupiter 12, Saturn 10, Venus 8, Mars 7.30 and Mercury 7. (Some other traditional astrologers assign different but similar orb values to the planets.)
To find out if significators are within orb, we add the number of degrees comprising each planet's orb and divide that number by two, arriving at their moiety - the point at which they begin to actively influence one another through the medium of an aspect. For example, Sun (17 degrees) plus Jupiter (12 degrees) equals 29 degrees; divided by two, we get 14.5 degrees. So when Jupiter and the Sun are within 14.5 degrees of forming an aspect, they are said to be within orb, and if they are applying we sit up and take notice of other conditions affecting them. It should be noted that, technically, a conjunction is not an aspect, but a bodily conjoining - though for ease of discussion, we often refer to the conjunction as an aspect.
This might be too much information, but at some point in the study of perfection you will need to have it.